Watering can

ABSTRACT

A watering can comprising of body with two spouts, one open spout and one spout with a rosette spray head; a circular handle connecting both spouts and the lower portion of both sides of the body, the handle having a hollow section connecting the open spout with an opening in the top of the handle and means for closing the hollow connection; a mounted stirring/measuring rod; and optionally a siphon drain in the rosette spray head; provides an improved garden implement for spraying and watering which permits (a) measured mixing, in the can, of additional materials including solids, powders and other liquids; (b) solid stream or spray application of the cans contents; and optionally; (c) a nodrip rosette spray head which has a materially improved resistance to rusting in the lower section of the head caused by pooling of the spray liquid after use and the loss thereof.

United States Patent Grotz 1 51 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] WATERINQ CAN [72]Inventor: Edward C. Grotz, Wilmington, Del.

[73] Assignee: Mr. Gardener Enterprises Ltd., Wilmington, Del.

[22] Filed: Mar. 4, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 120,958

Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Edwin D. GrantAttorney-Samuel V. Abramo [57] ABSTRACT A watering can comprising ofbody with two spouts, one open spout and one spout with a rosette sprayhead; a circular handle connecting both spouts and the lower portion ofboth sides of the body, the handle having a hollow section connectingthe open spout with an opening in the top of the handle and means forclosing the hollow connection; a mounted stirring/measuring rod; andoptionally a siphon drain in the rosette spray head; provides animproved garden implement for spraying and watering which permits (a)measured mixing, in the can, of additional materials including solids,powders and other liquids; (b) solid stream or spray application of thecans contents; and optionally; (c) a no-drip rosette spray head whichhas a materially improved resistance to rusting in the lower section ofthe head caused by pooling of the spray liquid after use and the lossthereof.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures [52] U.S.Cl ..239/377,222/481 [51] InLCl..A0lg25/14 [58] FieldotSearch ..222/566,478,481;239/376, 239/377, 525,378

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 163,853 7/1955Australia ..239/377 656,056 4/1929 France ...222/478 716,040 12/1931France .239/377 397,317 2/1966 Switzerland ...239/376 926,640 4/1955Germany ..239/377 38 W. 4 37 18 ff -57 llll PATENTEUHAR Y4 I972 3,648.933

sum 1 or 2 57 III'J INVENTOR Edward C. Gro BY MUM ATTOBAZ'Y PAIENTEUMAR14 m2 3, 648. 933

SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR Edward C. Grog B1 AT TORNEY WATERING CANBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to hand-portable watering devices and more particularly isdirected to a watering can which combines means for measuring powder,solid or liquid materials into the can, means for mixing and measuringthe contents of the can, alternate solid stream or spray dispensing ofthe cans contents, and optionally a siphon drain for the liquid whichcollects to form a small pool inside the lower lip of the rosette sprayhead.

2. Description of the Prior Art Watering cans have been known to the artfor many years. Representative of the prior art cans are those disclosedfor example in German Pat. No. 437,666 and French Pat. No. 716,040.However, there is a continuing need for improved watering cans whichoptimize the convenience of various gardening devices. Thus, forexample, the watering can of this invention provides means for bothsolid stream and spray application of the cans contents; means formixing other material with the liquid contents of the can; a means toreduce the corrosion of the rosette spray head; and a means to preventdripping of retained water in the spray head when the water can isplaced in an upright position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In summary this invention is directed to awatering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closed bottom, anopen top, and openings at each of two opposite sides;

b. two spouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body andcommunicating with the openings at the opposite sides of the body,

one spout comprisingan unrestricted conduit, and the other spoutcomprising a conduit opening into a rosette spray head;

c. means fixed to the outside of said body for detachably mounting arod, and said rod, suitable in length for stirring the contents of thebody, and bearing graduated markings along its length for measuring thecontents of the body; and

d. a circular shaped handle fixedly connected at opposite lower portionsof the body, in the vertical plane of the openings at the opposite sidesof the body;

passing up in a curved path on both sides of the body in the verticalplane of the spouts;

connecting with the spouts; and passing in a continuous arc over the topof the can said handle having an opening in its uppermost region;

closing means for said opening;

a hollow passage in communication with said opening and the interior ofaspout; and

means for intermittent interruption of said communicatron.

This invention is further directed to the above described can whereinthere is a hollow tube running from just inside the lower lip of therosette spray head back down into the body, such that a siphon effect isexerted on liquid pooling inside the lower lip of the rosette sprayhead.

This watering can provides a means for dispensing either a solid streamor a spray of the liquid contents of the can, means for mixing othermaterials with the liquid contents of the can, and optionally a meansfor removing retained water in the spray head and minimize reducingdripping of this water from the rosette spray head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention is more easilyunderstood by reference to the drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the physical appearanceof an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plane view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented cross-sectional view illustrating thecommunicating hollow handle, means for interrupting the communicatingpassage, and a solid material, in the form of pellets being measuredinto the can;

FIG. 4 is a fragmented plane view of closing means for the opening inthe upper region of the handle:

FIG. 5 is a fragmented plane view illustrating a three-way pelletdispensing index as means for interrupting the communicating passagewaybetween the top of the handle and the spout;

FIG. 6 is a fragmented cross-sectional view illustrating the rosettespray head with the optional siphon-tube in place;

FIG. 7 is a fragmented crosssectional view showing the screen-filteredsiphon-tube of FIG. 6 in detail.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in greaterdetail it is seen in FIG. 1 that the watering can 10 comprises acylindrical body 12 closed at the bottom 14 with an opening 16 at thetop. An unrestricted spout 18 provides a solid stream dispenser whilethe second spout 20 terminates in a rosette spray head 22. Theencircling handle 24 connects at opposite sides of the body in its lowerregion, passes up through the vertical plane of the spouts 18, 20 andarcs over the open top 16 of the body. The opening in the top of thehandle 24 is shown with a side latch 26. Also shown in the handle 24 isthe knurled head 36 of a closure-three-way dispenser means 34, having astem 37 and snapring 38, with a discharge tube 40, and a color indexingspot 47. Also shown is the optional stirring/measuring rod 54 and itsholding means 56, 57.

In FIG. 2 top view,'the slide latch 26 is shown in greater detail with alatch guide way 28. The knurled head 36 is also shown more clearly withan arrow pointer 44.

In FIG. 3 is shown the hollow portion of the handle 24 with a detailedexample of a solid dispensing device featuring a pellet inlet part 30under the slide latch 26. The pellets 32 are shown being added to theliquid 33 in the can by means of the phantom outlines 32a. The 3-waydispensing means 34 includes a knurled head 36, stem 37, snapring 38,and recessed pocket 39. The pellets 32 are shown stored in the hollowhandle 49 which serves as a'pellet storage area.

FIG. 4 shows a closeup top view of the top of handle 24 with the slidelatch 26, latch guideway 28 and pellet inlet part 30.

FIG. 5 shows a closeup view of a dispensing means with a knurled head36, stem 37, and recessed pocket 39. Also shown is the discharge tube40, the indicating arrow 44 and color indexing spots 46, 47 and 48 inthe handle 24.

In FIG. 6 is shown the optional siphon-tube 50 running from just insidethe lower lip of the rosette spray 22 back down through the spout 20into the liquid 33 in the can.

In FIG. 7 the siphon-tube 50 is shown just inside the lower lip of therosette spray head 22 with a filter screen 52 over the end of thesiphon-tube 50 to prevent plugging.

The device of this invention is useful for watering plants. The deviceprovides water either as a spray or as a solid stream. A fertilizer.water mixture can be formed and conveniently provided from the dispensermeans. Alternatively, the dispenser means is in itself useful as a meansof measuring a water soluble concentrated plant food pellet into watercontained in the water can or the pellet can be dispensed for direct usein a potted plant.

As used in this application the rosette spray head or as it is sometimesknown as a'rose spray head conotates a spray head having a plurality oforifices which permits the flow of water as a broad spray. The waterescapes from this spray head as a gentle spray for application directlyto the foliage as well as the roots of a plant.

The siphon containing rosette spray head is particularly useful tominimize the loss of pooled water when the water can is placed in anupright nondispensing position. For example, the

water can equipped with siphon can be used indoors where dripping fromthe spray head might stain or otherwise mar floors and interiorstructures.

The dispenser has a first setting for engaging a plant food pellet whenthe arrow 44 is directed towards color indexing spot 46, a secondposition for discharging the pellet out of the discharge tube 40 whenthe knurled head 36 is turned to position the arrow towards color indexspot 47 and a third position for discharging the pellet directly intowater contained in the can by turning the knurled head 36 towards colorindexing spot 48.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clarity ofunderstanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understoodtherefrom. The invention is not limited to the exact details shown anddescribed for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in theart.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A watering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closedbottom, an open top,

and openings at each of two opposite sides;

b. two spouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body andcommunicating with the openings at the opposite sides of the body, onespout comprising an unrestricted conduit, and the other spout comprisinga conduit opening into a rosette spray head;

. a circular shaped handle fixedly connected at opposite lower portionsof the body, in the vertical plane of the spouts; connecting with thespouts; and passing in a continuous arc over the top of the can; saidhandle having an opening in its uppermost region; closing means for saidopening; a hollow passage in communication with said opening and theinterior of a spout; and

means for intermittent interruption of said communication.

1 2. The watering can of claim 1 wherein there is a hollow tube runningfrom just inside the lower lip of the rosette head.

back down into the body, such that a siphon effect is exerted on liquidpooling inside the lower lip of the rosette head.

3, The watering can of claim 1 wherein this is means fixed to theoutside of said body for detachably mounting a rod, and said rod,suitable in length for stirring the contents of the body, and bearinggraduated markings along its length for measuring the contents of thebody.

4. The watering can of claim 3 is made of metal.

5. The watering can of claim 3 can be composed of polyethylene orpolypropylene.

1. A watering can comprising a. a cylindrical body having a closedbottom, an open top, and openings at each of two opposite sides; b. twospouts, one each located at opposite sides of the body and communicatingwith the openings at the opposite sides of the body, one spoutcomprising an unrestricted conduit, and the other spout comprising aconduit opening into a rosette spray head; c. a circular shaped handlefixedly connected at opposite lower portions of the body, in thevertical plane of the spouts; connecting with the spouts; and passing ina continuous arc over the top of the can; said handle having an openingin its uppermost region; closing means for said opening; a hollowpassage in communication with said opening and the interior of a spout;and means for intermittent interruption of said communication.
 2. Thewatering can of claim 1 wherein there is a hollow tube running from justinside the lower lip of the rosette head, back down into the body, suchthat a siphon effect is exerted on liquid pooling inside the lower lipof the rosette head.
 3. The watering can of claim 1 wherein this ismeans fixed to the outside of said body for detachably mounting a rod,and said rod, suitable in length for stirring the contents of the body,and bearing graduated markings along its length for measuring thecontents of the body.
 4. The watering can of claim 3 is made of metal.5. The watering can of claim 3 can be composed of polyethylene orpolypropylene.